News

It seems like more shark conservation legislation rolls through the door everyday. Earlier this week, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) took steps to tighten regulations on catching Silky sharks.

The new measures require all Silky sharks – a species considered to be “near threatened” to extinction – caught in ICCAT fisheries be released.

“It is a great day for silky sharks,” said Elizabeth Griffin Wilson, senior manager of marine wildlife at the advocacy group Oceana. “ICCAT should be commended for its continued effort to protect the ocean’s top predators. Today’s decision to protect silky sharks is a strong step forward in protecting one of the most commonly found species in the international shark fin trade.”

More good news rolled in on Monday, when HongKong and Shanghai Hotels became the first chain in Hong Kong to ban shark fin soup.